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Get My CTA U-Pass

Full-time and eligible part-time students at City Colleges can receive a Ventra U-Pass, which offers unlimited rides on any CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) bus or train.

Full Description

The Ventra U-Pass offers full-time and eligible part-time students unlimited rides on any CTA bus or train during an academic term. The U-Pass function on your Ventra Card will activate on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, the first day of summer term credit classes. Below, you’ll find some general information to help you become familiar with your new Ventra U-Pass.

With the new Ventra card, you will no longer need to obtain a new U-Pass every semester.

Your U‐Pass is valid for five years and your transit account will remain active when the semester is completed, BUT you must add funds to your U‐Pass to use it.

As long as you are enrolled as a full‐time student (6+ credit hours for summer, 12+ credit hours for fall/spring), and you do not have a negative balance on your U‐Pass, your unlimited riding privileges will be loaded onto your card automatically.

U‐Pass privileges are not valid on Pace buses or Metra trains. You must pay a full fare to ride Pace and Metra.

Using Your U-Pass Between Semesters

While your U-Pass allows free CTA rides during the semester, you will need to add funds to your Ventra account in order to use it when classes are not in session or if you are not full time.

One of the benefits of the Ventra Card is that you can continue to use it during the time between semesters, but in order to do so you will need to add funds to your Ventra account. You can load transit value to your card:

Rules and Conditions

U‐Pass is limited to exclusive use by the original full‐time student card owner. Your U‐Pass may not be shared. If any conditions are violated, the pass will be confiscated for up to one academic year without reimbursement.

Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Cards

If your pass is lost or stolen, you may request a new card through the Business Office at your home college. You must present your City Colleges ID and pay a $50 non-refundable replacement fee. If you have further questions, email the CTA at: cta-upass@transitchicago.com, call 1-888-YOUR-CTA, or visit the CTA U-PASS website.​